England women’s coach Hope Powell claims she has had no contact with League
Two club Grimsby Town despite wide speculation that she is being lined up to
replace recently sacked Mike Newell.

The England women’s coach was reported to have applied for the position with the League Two strugglers after Newell’s dismissal, but claims such reports were “completely unfounded” and that she had “not been approached by or spoken to anyone from Grimsby”.

Powell, who has been England coach for over a decade and led them to the final of this year’s European Championships, is one of the brightest English coaches in the game and was the first woman to achieve the Uefa Pro A-licence, the top coaching qualification in the sport, in 2003, studying alongside Stuart Pearce.

If she were to move in to managing a men’s professional team she would be the first woman to do so.

Grimsby chairman John Fenty, too, confirmed no contact had been made with Powell but did not rule out the possibility of her being considered should she apply.

“I have never spoken to the lady. She hasn’t put an application in so we can hardly consider her,” he said.

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“If people want to apply we will consider them in due course. All applications will receive a due overhaul and we will go through them in detail.

“Their better attributes will be identified, they will then be shortlisted, we will take them forward as a board, interview the shortlist and ultimately decide who is going to be the next manager.”

Dean Windass and former Grimsby defender John McDermott have both been linked with the position.

The League Managers’ Association said it would back Powell if she were to apply for this or any other job in the men’s professional game.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said: “Why shouldn’t she (make the step into the men’s game)? Hope has done a fantastic job with England, but I’m not sure the FA would want to let her go.”

Powell has long been predicted as the first woman to take on a manager’s position in a professional league in England and earlier this year said: “If someone came with an offer that I thought was serious enough then I’d be a fool not to.

“I think the world of football has to accept that women are qualified to be part of the game.

"We have some fantastic female coaches, not only in England but across the world, and we should be respected for putting the work in to gain those qualifications. Sometimes I’m not sure we get that credit.”